Epidemiology of blood component recipients in hospitals of Yazd, Iran

Blood recipient and blood product utilisation data are needed for assessment of current transfusion practice in hospitals. Such data can help monitoring blood use, improving blood transfusion practice and estimating future blood use.

In this cross sectional study, the rate of blood consumption has been evaluated in three randomly selected hospitals of Yazd, Iran in 2011-2012. Data of blood recipients including patient identification number, age, sex, principal diagnoses, date of transfusion, type and number of transfused blood components and indication for transfusion were prospectively collected.

The dataset included information about 814 patients (53% males) who received 1110 RBCs, 410 plasma and 1484 platelet (PLT) units. Transfusion rate per 1000 population per year was 24, 10 and 15 for red blood cells (RBCs), plasma and PLT units, respectively. Age group 17-64 years had the highest consumption of blood components (55%). Most of the RBCs and PLT units were transfused to patients with neoplasm (42 and 82%, respectively). Cardiovascular surgery was the diagnosis category with most plasma usage (32%). The category with highest haemoglobin level before transfusion was surgery; Orthopaedic and ENT surgeries were at the top of ranking (11·96 ± 1·85 g dL(-1)). PLT count before transfusion was 11·160 ± 5·282 × 10(9)  L(-1) in neoplasm category and 12·3637 ± 6·2267 × 10(10)  L(-1) in neonatal disease.

Study results showed the first epidemiological data of blood recipients on a regional basis in Iran. It is suggested to study blood utilisation at the national level to assist in improving transfusion practice in hospitals.